Wednesday, September 12, 2012

On Changing Colors

You may remember a recent, shattering mishap involving vases and mirrors that left my mantle naked and missing the former row of slowly collected over time yellow treasures. Which now has the vivid yellow chest of drawers (where I conceal lots of yarns, threads and mid-progress handworks) looking lonely for a dance partner. Jeff gave me one very lovely little green vase for my birthday as a signal to cheer up and move on already. A new color.

I had been thinking for months of changing up this room a bit. And here is a list of thoughts should you be so utterly bored as to read through them:

:: Liar, Liar that's not a Fire. As charming as the fireplace is, it is entirely fake. Yes it's true. It has a mantle and a deep slate tiled alcove, complete with a stack of logs, but I would burn the whole house down if I built a fire in there. I fear I would miss the mantle if we dug out and used the space some other way. So my thought here is to use the open interior space as a spot for a custom built book shelf. Like this-ish. Okay next.
:: Insets. To either side of the (not) fireplace have always been a nice asset to the room and were entirely lined with shelves for knickknacks when we moved in. I am not much for knickknacks. Well I was, I guess, until they shattered. And while portraits are there now, I think I'm ready to see multiple quilts on multiple rods across each inset, instead. From top to bottom. Savvy?
:: Color. I will not be letting go of the deep turquoise mantle wall. In fact if I could carry that color around in my back pocket all day I would. I adore it. The lighter glass blue of the rest of the room though... I am ready to see something new. I might be in this room more than any in the house save the attic studio, and I have never been at peace with this color, as nice as it is. It have always felt it a bit airy for the weight of all of the rest of the color/pattern/art. So my thoughts now are to go way deep and more neutral. The deep tones in this post of Holly's are inspiring me. For instance take that turquoise from the mantle and toss in a lot of grey/brown to get a murky swampy, blank slate. A color you can sink into and get lost in. It's a big room, so I am not afraid of the dark.
:: Art. With the thought of the deep wall, and so far two more paintings (from the insets) in need of a home, I think I will expand the "art wall" to stretch across the whole right wall, and not just above the sofa. I will take that iron garden artifact from behind the chest to the, well, garden. Then hang a lot of art. I mean a lot. My attic is filled with more. And with the dark colored walls I anticipate a feeling of the art emerging from the wall rather than hanging on it.
:: Furnishings. I will switch out my printed curtains foir some natural linen panels. I think I will give the big round table a coat of linen white as well while I'm at it to balance the dark walls and help highlight all the trim. Couches will remain largely the same, though one of them has recently gotten a needlepoint-y makeover which I'll be sharing more about soon. Rugs. I've been looking. Not going to go overboard unless it's a great deal, bc I still have a puppy in training. But this has caught my eye. I think it would be amazing in under a creamy table and in a swampy green/blue room. Though the tassles might well drive me mad, but I could resign myself to snipping them off and repurposing them elsewhere.

And those are the points of my brain's interworkings regarding a living room and also likely the very first time I have been made truly aware of why people Pin. But I get so overwhelmed at the thought of Pinning. I spend 5 seconds on there and suddenly I hate all images and never want to look at another poetically esoteric photo of a jello shooter for as long as I live. Don't hate me because I don't pin. You can pin. I still love you.

I'd like to recommend Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue. It's a clay-based paint, with a wonderful matte glowy quality that is hard to explain. We did our whole first floor in shades of F&B, and the Hague Blue in our living room is by far the favorite of me and everyone else who comes into our house. The color changes a lot over the course of the day, and depending on lighting, so I'd definitely paint out a sample and see what you think. But here's some photos from my living room -- the later ones are a better indicator of the true color. http://www.mamohanraj.com/journal/show-entry.php?Entry_ID=6888

Get rid of the fireplace! It's wasted space. You could do so much there. Like build a tiny stage for your kids to rock out on. I live in a very tiny house with 550 sq ft. Everything has to have meaning, and a purpose.

... not to change the subject, but if you return to Southern California... would you care to drop by, discuss these same topics, but in my living room? You obviously know what you are doing, and I am awe of your choices and can-do decorator daring.

I love your ideas! I love the new rug idea, puts a nice pop of color on the floor. I think artwork is a must in a house. I recently went from wild print to airy linen curtains in a few rooms but your quilt idea might make up for it. Even folded stacked quilts could be a nice decorating touch. Then you could grab one to use a little easier. Can't wait to see the next phase. :)

I found the PERFECT blue/grey (and green according mum in law)colour! It is quite a neutral and warm tone but still dark and moody. I've put it onto Flickr for you to see.http://www.flickr.com/photos/beeandlotus/7982316748/in/set-72157631526283115/ If you like it I will work out a corelating PMS number for you.'Twould look great with the teal and pops of pink :),it also goes really well with the yellow and orange coral prints on the wall.Good luck!

I my dining room is a similar color to your mantle wall. It is my favorite room in the house and favorite color-I never tire of it. Have you ever thought of toning it down. Making it a more "smokey teal" it compliments the neutrals you are suggesting well. (I did this is my house and I always get tons of compliments, even from designers) Doing so would allow you to bring in a new color pallet of neutrals but still keep a version of the color you love so much. Of course, I think you are pretty much an expert on color, your pallets always amaze me. So it seems pretty silly to even mention the idea because you have probably already thought of it.

Love your ideas! I'm struggling a bit (what a nice problem to have, eh?) with what color to paint our living/dining room... currently it's yellow and I just can't decide if I like it or not. I need to look you up on Pinterest to see what colors you've got pinned... I need some inspiration! :)

My living room/dining room/kitchen is nearly the same colors as yours. The one, super long wall, is a similar teal and the other walls are all the lighter teal. I painted it close to 6 or so years ago and I still absolutely love it. I'm going to start saying I'd carry it around in my back pocket because that is such a great way to explain how much I love my teal wall. ;) Loved seeing into your home a bit today!

Yeah, I don't pin either. Used to work at a fabric store and I hated the "I don't have time to sew" excuse from people who would also tell me about the hours they spent on pinterest. Priorities people!

Thank you for sharing your home with us. You have inspired me to change around my living room & inject a bit more colour into our home. my favourite bit? The football in the corner! At last a home that is really lived in!!!! I have footballs in the hall & ripstick i the kitchen but i wouldnt have it any other way! :-) thank you.

Oh my. Everything you blog about is so beautiful. I really love the idea of using the nooks on either side of the fireplace for quilts. All of your ideas are lovely, but my favorites are the "quilt nooks", expanding the art wall, and adding a brown to the light blue wall. I can't wait to see how lovely it turns out!

Ah but I can surf (I don't pin either) at work, but can't pull out my trusty machine and do all the sewing I mean to...sadly. Thus my many emails-to-self of projects-to-do, and few projects done (at home, when kids are asleep/away, but I'm not).

All the changes sound awesome! I can't wait to see it completed. Pinterest started for me as a way to organize all the pages I was bookmarking and a reminder as to why I was bookmarking them. I do admit it become a time sucker if you're not careful but I love being able to go back and find what I need when it comes to actually do it - dinner and sewing and gifts. It helps that most of my time for work is on the computer anyways so Pinterest is right there. I wouldn't want to take time away from other pursuits.

I love your living room ideas. I can't wait to see all the changes- especially your needlepointy couch. Do keep the mantle color, and by all means snatch up the color card and carry it in your back pocket always. :D Please post lots of pictures along the way!

Anna...your ideas are transporting. Quilts on either side of the (not)fireplace sounds so cozy. Are you going to hang them from rods at different levels? If so, maybe you could hang some paintings amongst them or in front of them. Layering isn't just for camis and tank tops anymore! You have created a unique, color embracing, family home. There truly is NO place like home. Happy decorating! xo

I bought an antique fireplace and restored it, then had a carpenter build shelves in it. He built a marble-tiled hearth for the whole thing to get it up off the ground a bit. When we moved, I loved it so much I brought it to our new house where it is the centerpiece of a long wall full of floor to ceiling bookshelves.

I bought a second antique fireplace for the master bedroom and got an electric fire insert for it. It even had a remote control to turn the "flames" up or down and the heat on or off. It looked very realistic and even had a crackle sound if you wanted it! I loved it, too, but didn't take it to the new house as I had built it in.

Love your living room ideas. Need someone to come overhaul mine! Was just looking at the rugs on Anthropology yesterday. Of course the ones I like are the expensive ones. :( With three kids, two dogs, a cat and a guinea pig, huh, NOT spending that much on a rug.I don't pin either. For the same reasons as you. Most people are like "you must love pinterest!" It overwhelms me. And there is so much miscellany that it all starts to look the same. Also, I like the story that comes with the pictures on blogs. The story makes the picture come alive and vice versa.

I'm Holly, I have a row of old white vases, (more than a row really) collected over the last 30 years. And, some green McCoy vases and teapots. I've had them so long they are part of me. There is a lonely yellow vase, sitting in my "holiday storage" shelves. It's about 7 or 8" tall and fan shaped. It's yours if you would like, a gift for all the lovely inspiration you send out. I could send a photo if you would like. It's not a real bright yellow, sort of a 30's soft yellow and it's old, but not sure how old... maybe 40's. Just let me know.

Your living room reminds me of mine a bit. No real rhyme or reason to the patterns and lots of color. Where I am living at the moment I can't paint the walls... that is what my living room is currently missing, oh, and a coffee table. I am doing my best to completely cover the walls with pictures, art and other bric-brac.

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